Causes of reduced crop yield :

Abstract

The study examined the causes of' reduced crop yield in Namasagali sub county Kamuli District. Major crop types grown in the sub-county were identified and the contributing factors to the reducing crop yields. Qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect data were used and this involved use of secondary data, observation, interviews and use of questionnaires. The data collected from a sample of 50 respondents was analysed using SPSS 6.0 and EXCEL statistical packages and results presented by use of pie charts, frequency tables and bar graphs. The study revealed that major crops grown by the farmers in Namasagali sub county were food crops for domestic consumption which also serves for commercial purposes and food security reasons. The study also revealed that Food crops are the major sources of livelihood for the farmers. Farming was dictated by climate variations and soil types. The major factors fronted by farmers for the reducing crop yields in Namasagali sub county were drought, pests and diseases, heavy rainfall, land size holdings, labour and declining soil other contributing factors to this trend lend much to education levels of the farmers which influences use and adoption of high yield enhancing technologies, soil types and the reducing sizes of the land holdings or the farmers are other variables that contribute to the reducing crop yields. It is recommended from this study that farmers adapt new methods of farming, plant more improved seed to increase on the yield form farmer organisations where they can access credit to buy inputs such as fertilizers also farmers should adopt farmer field school approach (hands on programmes), also government to encourage higher level farmer organizations.